Source: Team_Talk
Strachan: Game for men, not Bhoys
The Hoops manager will once again turn to coach Neil Lennon, veteran of many Glasgow derby games when he was a player at the club, to help him shape the side for the visit of Rangers.[LNB]Players who have proved in the past that they can stand up to the rigours of an always keenly-fought fixture, such as fit-again captain Stephen McManus, plus midfielders Paul Hartley, Barry Robson and Scott Brown, are likely to start.[LNB]A Celtic win would take them five points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premier League, and Strachan believes in the horses-for-courses strategy.[LNB]He said: "We have more than enough players to put out a good side, it's just about getting the right ones for the day and that occasion.[LNB]"I take Lenny's advice on what is needed to win an Old Firm game.[LNB]"I was speaking to him and we agreed that very rarely do you say it was a great game. It's a different type of game.[LNB]"We always have a lot of great footballers out there but you never really see a great passing-type game.[LNB]"It's a strong man's game, physically and mentally, between people who won't back down.[LNB]"Mostly we talk about the tackles, the headers, the energy, and maybe great finishes like we had the last time at Ibrox from Scott McDonald."[LNB]Australia international McDonald has returned from Japan after spending 90 minutes on the bench in a World Cup qualifier.[LNB]Strachan, continuing on the theme of picking players to suit the occasion, insists he is not frustrated by what appeared to be a wasted and tiring journey for his striker.[LNB]He explained: "I said to Scott that sometimes a manager doesn't know his best team.[LNB]"Maybe he knows his system but then he has to put faces to that and sometimes it can happen in the last 24 hours.[LNB]"That sometimes happens to me, it's just about picking the right players at the right time and the players have to put up with that.[LNB]"It's all about getting results at international level and the manager got a terrific 0-0 result.[LNB]"So Scott has to believe in his manager.[LNB]"He has picked his team and we get on with it.[LNB]"The manager knows Scott is going to be a big part of the future at Australia but different games means different players."[LNB]A new name could be added to the Old Firm mosaic on Sunday with 17-year-old Ibrox protege John Fleck set to make his first appearance in the fixture.[LNB]Fleck has been lauded since breaking into Walter Smith's side in recent weeks and could be handed a place in the Light Blues midfield.[LNB]However, Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley is not buying in to the hype surrounding the teenager just yet.[LNB]Hartley said: "To be honest, I'm not really bothered who plays for them. It's about what we do.[LNB]"There is a lot of hype surrounding John and I've heard a lot of good reports about him but I haven't seen so much of him.[LNB]"They have a lot of good players and on their day they are a very good team.[LNB]"We know it will be a tough game, as is any Old Firm game."[LNB][LNB] Celtic v Rangers. Click here to bet.[LNB]
